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| HMX | |
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| IUPAC name | 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [2691-41-0] |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C4H8N8O8 |
| Molar mass | 296.155 g/mol |
| Density | 1.91 g/cm3, solid |
| Melting point |
276-286 °C |
| Explosive data | |
| Shock sensitivity | Low |
| Friction sensitivity | Low |
| Explosive velocity | 9100 m/s |
| RE factor | 1.70 |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
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HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. Like RDX, the name has been variously misconstrued as High Melting eXplosive, Her Majesty's eXplosive or even High-velocity Military eXplosive, but in fact it simply means "High-Molecular-weight rdX".
Its molecule is an eight-membered ring of alternating carbon and nitrogen atoms, with a nitro group attached to each nitrogen atom. Because of its high molecular weight, it is one of the most powerful chemical explosives manufactured, although a number of newer ones, including HNIW and octanitrocubane, are more powerful and/or less sensitive.
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Production
HMX is more complicated to manufacture than most explosives and this confines it to specialist applications. It may be produced by nitration of hexamine in the presence of acetic anhydride, paraformaldehyde and ammonium nitrate.citation needed RDX produced using the Bachmann Process usually contains 8-10% HMX.citation needed
Applications
Also known as cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine, tetrahexamine tetranitramine, or octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane, HMX was first made in 1930. In 1949 it was discovered that HMX can be prepared by nitrolysis of RDX. Nitrolysis of RDX is performed by solving RDX in a 55% HNO3 solution, followed by placing the solution on a steambath for about six hours.1 HMX is used almost exclusively in military applications, including as the detonator in nuclear weapons, in the form of polymer-bonded explosive and as a solid rocket propellant.
HMX is used in melt-castable explosives when mixed with TNT, which as a class are referred to as "octols." Additionally, polymer bonded explosive compositions containing HMX are used in the manufacture of missile warheads and armor piercing shaped charges.
References
1. WE Bachmann, JC Sheehan (1949). "A New Method of Preparing the High Explosive RDX1". Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1949 (5): 1842–1845.
- Cooper, Paul W., Explosives Engineering, New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8
- Urbanski, Tadeusz. Chemistry and Technology of Explosives. Vol. III., Warszawa: Polish Scientific Publishers, 1967
Manufacturers
